I'm 17 and have depression...?

Question

Hi, i have depression. I take 700mg of St john's wort, it doesn't really help much. I know that i need to change my outlook on life somehow. I don't feel like socializing or talking to anybody, i spend all my time either on the computer, or in my bedroom crying. I'm more quiet than i used to be, and distant. I don't feel like doing anything, and i don't feel like anyone really cares about me.

I don't want to go to a counselor/therapist or burden my family and friends with my problem. How can i fight this alone? I would appreciate it if you could give me some tips.

Answer 1

Your regular doctor, the one who prescribes you antibiotics for infections, can prescribe antidepressants for you. That would be the safest bet.

You need to set regular eating and sleeping schedules and stick to them. You need to get out into the sunshine whenever possible, and be sure to get exercise every day.

Take B complex vitamins. They will boost your mood.

Good luck!

Answer 2

You can't fight depression on your own. You have no logical reason to do so; it's like your mind wants to do something that your heart wants to do. Not sure what St. John's wort does, or doesn't, but I tried the antidepressants and ended up getting hooked on them so I stopped those cold turkey, which got me even more depressed, so I took a bunch of something else and got my stomach pumped the next day when I got scared because I started hallucinating. Talk to someone about your problem; the best you can do for yourself is to try to will yourself in line, or to pray about it alot but again you need some form of intervention to really get any true help.

Family and friends can do but so much, and yeah it is a burden but it is what they're supposed to be there for. Family you have to live with but if your friends don't want to be bothered they're not your true friends to begin with. I haven't been depressed for about as old as you are, so you can get over it, though at the time I couldn't see how. If you're not socializing on the computer what it is you're diong exactly? The computer can seriously blur the line between reality and fiction; particularly if you don't get out much anyway and are using your time looking at girls or engaged in some MMPORG or something. It'll have you thinking that there isn't much to look forward to in real life. Too much time on the computer can be depressing in and of itself if you aren't doing anything productive. Turn the computer off ...

Answer 3

I am the same age, and am going through the exact same thing as you...and you have to understand that you are not alone no matter how much you feel that way. What may be different between us is that I live on my own, and have for a couple years now. Because of my depression and social anxiety, i dropped out of school, lost all of my friends, and have a hard time keeping a job. If i had any kind of social life I would appreciate it to the fullest, because it really is important that you let others know what you're feeling..because if you keep everything to yourself, it will only get worse. You alone cannot help yourself out of depression...and isolating yourself in your room and crying all the time (its hard not to...I do it almost all the time also) will only help you learn to pity yourself...I have recently started therapy and it does wonders, you have to believe me. Before I started, I had gone to a couple different therapists and decided after one session that it wasn't for me..but you really have to delve into it and let him/her get to know the real you, so they can help you...and not only that, but venting your feelings is so refreshing and makes you feel so much more at peace with yourself afterwards, if only for a moment..but it will get better..I wish you good luck and hope you realize you are never really alone :)

Answer 4

Hi Kierra,

YOU CAN NOT DO THIS ALONE! I suffer from sever depression
and there has been many days I don't want to get out of bed let alone talk to anyone. Let me first suggest talking with your primary doctor that will be a start, at least you will be able to get started on medication. Secondly everyone usually has at least one or two very close friends in which they can confide in because I speak from experience when I say if it weren't for my friends I might not be alive today. depression only gets worse when it goes untreated. If your into more the holistic approach try acupuncture which works well and find someone very reputable not just anyone. All the best, I hope you can get the help you need

Answer 5

Well, yes, this is what friends and family are supposed to be all about.
But since your family hasn't given you the direct message that you're worth going through the trouble for, they may or may not be partly responsible for this anyway.
This is not something to go through alone. Period.
Especially because a hormone problem could be causing it, like my ten-year-bout with ups and downs.
Please make sure you go to the doctor for this. You have no idea (and I don't either right now, but it's high) the amount of mental discomfort/trouble that's due in large part to undiagnosed physical problems.
It may not be that at all, hon. But if you insist on going to your doctor, you may not even have to tell why exactly... you can let the doctor know, and get screened.
Just say your energy levels are way down, and you're not feeling right.
That's true, isn't it?
Once you get started that way, you might find all kinds of other ways of dealing with whatever this is.
But please don't try to fight it yourself, or you could end up not knowing how else to think.
And yes, love,
You ARE worth it!

Answer 6

first of all dear,its good that you brought up your problem to a vast world of friends. I appreciate your thought of keeping your family happy. in today's teenage there are only few people who think of friends and family.So thats one point of you getting sad and deppressed because once you take your little tiny --minny problems within you not sharing it with others ...gradually with an exposure of something a bit more serious comes up everything blasts out and you become like i am nowhere in this world.
Don't change yourself---be the way you are because you have many good qualities BUT---when things happen let them happen as they come to you. For example when you are watching a movie...there comes a very romantic scene and you feel ohhh i just wis the actor or the actress go for each other or a crying scene where you might even start crying if the scene is really touching but after couple hrs when on screen it says THE END .you are back to your own life. same way while you go to your school watch everything around you and feel everthing but once you leave fro home BE AT HOME.There are always people at home to welcome you .Sare your time with them in their activities...either probably by helping-mom or dad or sis-bro or either watching tv with their fav shows . try to laugh with them thinking iam their part.I don't know who gave you the medicine but personally i would ask you to quit it.Medicines do nothing wxcept making things worth. you are very young for all those nasty medicines.You are young and you have the power to motivate your self. just close your eyes and think how much god things you do and how much evryone aroound you needs you.if you can wake up at about 7-8am and do some simple exercise and if you can't do any of these when you go to the bathroom just take 2 mor minutes inside and take a deep breath hold it for as long as you can and take it out a couple times repeat it whenever you use the bath room.
one other thing don't think if people care for you or not becasue if you love people people will love you .its just sometimes that we belive no one cares for me.still if you think no one does i car efor you dear friend ..and i will always pray fro you. stand up and have the courage to succed because suceess is nothing to exams or having a girl friend or boy friend or either looking good .Real suceess is how you lead and liv eyour own life .
best wishes and you will be a ver sucess ful person. god bless you my friend.Love yourself and the world will love you.

Answer 7

You are not being a burden on your family. That is why they are there, to help you through the tough times in life as well as the good. I have suffered from depression and still have my problems and have learned to accept my problems and to take my medication. I know my family is there for me even though I felt as though I was a burden to them. You need to talk to someone and figure out why you are feeling this way. If you can't figure it out you will need to get medical attention and get put on a prescription for depression which is not always a bad thing. They do have the good sides to them, they make me be able to deal with every day life and want to be around every day! They give me a meaning to be alive and make me see life in a good view, not all anti-depression medications are bad and do terrible things to people. I have been on them for 14 years and I will probably be on them for the rest of my life. I have a chemical imbalance in my brain and theres nothing I can do to change it I have tried to think it's in my head but it's not! I need the medication! I wish I could go without it but I can't, so I will continue to take it to make me a happy person to enjoy life. Talk to Someone they love you!

Answer 8

Facing life alone... or feeling like you have to... is sometimes what contributes to depression. I have to admit that fighting your emotions all by yourself is the hardest way to go about getting past this. I'd really recommend finding some sort of social outlet or resource with which you can share your struggle. Posting the question here is a start. Keep looking for others to help you.

Answer 9

There is no need to alone. I know its hard to deal with, from experience. But the sooner you understand and deal with the depression, the sooner you will get better.

Depression may never go away but learning to deal with it helps.

I myself have been depressed since I was 12, or maybe even younger. I didn't really realize the depth of it, nor seek help till I was almost 20. Now, I'm reaching my 28th birthday, I'm finally realizing how to cope with life, and I'm happier than I've ever been.

If you need someone to talk to, feel free to message me. Know that you aren't alone in your fight. There are also many nice online support groups.

Answer 10

you will possibly desire to consult a therapist. I get excitement from this could be confusing...I grew up in a Christian family individuals and speaking approximately melancholy grew to become into not the carried out element. it is in basic terms as an grownup that i've got come to words with my tension and melancholy and been able to speak approximately it and technique it with a counselor. I understand your Mum could be frightened approximately pills, they did not artwork for me yet treatment (with somebody thoroughly self sustaining) grew to become into the turning element in my existence. My family individuals have been very worried approximately me going for treatment exterior the church even nevertheless it is not magic I only technique the place my tension got here from and worked by approaches of handling it to have balanced rigidity unfastened days. sure some days it is nonetheless there yet not something like it was. Do some thing to make your existence extra sensible now, you will possibly desire to spend years being unhappy before you provide in after which you will sense sorry approximately dropping all those years being unhappy.

Answer 11

I've suffered through depression for the longest time....I do see where you're coming from because I've been there..am still somewhat there..
What I do remember doing that gave me a boost was writing in a journal..
I'm not talking about a dear diary..
what you do is each night before you go to bed..write in your journal 5 things that you were grateful for in that day. It could be anything..
..you caught the bus you wanted.
..you're grateful for your bed
..for the change in your purse..enough to buy the coffee you really needed..
really..it could be anything..it's the writing down of it that's important..
and after your list..you write something to perk you're spirits..you write something like if someone was giving you a compliment..
eg.. "hey (your name), you know? you're not that bad..you're a pretty great person.! I see better things ahead for you..

again..it's not that you believe it at the moment..it's the writing it..
It's the act of writing trying to fool you're brain/thoughts who's only goal at the moment seems to be wanting to bring you down.

It sounds silly..but if you try this..along with the st. johns' wort..
and even praying or getting people to pray for you (if you hold faith in prayer). It might give you some strength to carry on..

I hope only the best for you..I've been told the longer you're depressed, the harder it is to get better...

Don't give up..ever..keep on trying different things..and speak to someone..anyone..even to your reflection in the mirror..
But speak only good..don't put yourself down..We're all only human..none of us are perfect...but there's some good in all of us. Push yourself to see the good in you.